Benjamin Bubb

We have three existing garden beds in the kinder garden. The problem there is these three beds get very little sunlight. Although they produce lots of foliage it lacks the produce the children are so eager to see. Our solution to this problem is giving the children additional beds directly across a walkway in direct sunlight. This will further their interest in gardening and get them excited to become volunteers at the school age garden in the years to come. It also helps them become aware of the needs of one plant over another. The children will learn about shade and sunlight and how they effect so many types of plants. There would also be an opportunity to experiment with like plants. From seed to store bought which plant thrives more and why.
Our school age garden though spacious lacks an area for children to clean, cut and taste what they have grown. This would give us a chance to expand the experience for the children. Our tool shed right now is where we have a very limited amount of kitchen supplies. A long table with storage and sink would give us room to store, prepare and display what we've worked so hard to grow.
Living classroom brings a table and their own supplies but everything they bring makes the table too crowded and they have had to use the edge of the planter boxes is some cases. This would provide plenty of space to spread out. We do have an existing sink but with the activity in the garden two sinks would help with hand washing and crowding.
There are activities prepared for this year that would benefit from a large stationery table. Aside from what the children would put on display the families who come to share would be provided one area instead of items scattered about.
Lastly in the past the kids working in the garden would occasionally share the produce with kids on the play ground during lunch recess. They would bring a basket or tray out. This approach though fun for them made for countless trips to and from the garden. With the addition of a produce cart the kids could have many prepared baskets in one place and one trip. They look forward to this in the spring and with a cart all the volunteers could be involved not just the lucky few that get a tray.